While Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] was questioning Union Minister of Law and Justice H R Bharadwaj over the controversial affavidit filed in the Supreme Court that Lord Ram never existed, the latter politely claimed that the matter did not relate to his department and hence, he had no jurisdiction over it.

The Union Minister for Culture Ambika Soni, under whose control the Archeological Survey of India falls, is in Japan [Images].

According to official sources, Ambika Soni left on Tuesday night and would return to Delhi either late Friday night or Saturday morning.

"As soon she arrives in Delhi, Sonia would like to hear her version," a senior Congress office-bearer said.

Speaking to newsmen, Janardhan Dwivedi had confirmed that Sonia had sought an explanation from the government over how such a blunder could take place.

Senior Congress leaders conveyed to the party high command that they were receiving angry calls from their rank and file who wanted to know on what basis the statement questioning the very existence of Ram was made before the Supreme Court.

"Of course the angry calls came to all of us. Lord Ram is a matter of faith and nobody has the right to interfere with my faith," a senior Congress leader said.

Though Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Sonia, swung into action for damage control it was too late by then.

"We are filing an additional affidivit, but we have given advantage to the Bharatiya Janata Party," a senior Congress leader from Gujarat said.